Published: 14 August 2026
On Hudayriyat Island, sport is not confined to a single stadium or members’ club. Football pitches, tennis courts, cycling tracks, mountain-bike trails, adventure parks and a man-made surfing lagoon occupy different parts of the island. Some are designed for structured training, others for family recreation or an ordinary evening outdoors.
This variety has developed alongside a much larger residential masterplan. Roads, parks, beaches and public destinations are being arranged around movement, while future neighbourhoods will place homes within reach of facilities already in use. Others, including Velodrome Abu Dhabi and much of the planned cycling network, have yet to open.
For prospective residents, the advantage lies not in the number of attractions on the island’s map, but in how naturally these activities can become part and parcel of everyday life.
A Wave Built for Repetition
At Surf Abu Dhabi, the height, shape and pace of a wave can be adjusted for a first lesson, advanced coaching or elite competition. Opened in October 2024, the facility was developed by Modon in collaboration with the Kelly Slater Wave Company. Modon attributes three records to its wave: the world’s longest ride, largest barrel and highest man-made wave. In February 2025, it hosted the Surf Abu Dhabi Pro, the World Surf League Championship Tour’s first Middle Eastern event.
The basin accommodates different levels of experience. Discovery sessions combine 30 minutes of land drills with a 45-minute lesson in the water, while other settings allow established surfers to choose waves suited to their ability. Groups can reserve the main wave for 90 minutes through Surf Trip; Surf Trip Plus is arranged by enquiry, with timing, wave settings and complete privacy tailored to each group.
Controlled conditions change the practicalities of learning. At sea, a session depends on swell, wind, tide and the character of the break. Here, a coach can repeat a particular wave and concentrate on technique from one ride to the next. Surf Abu Dhabi is a separately bookable public destination, rather than a private amenity belonging to the island’s residential communities.
The Island’s Sports Village
Set within Hudayriyat’s Leisure and Entertainment District, 321 Sports is laid out as a collection of pitches, courts and training grounds. Natural- and artificial-grass football pitches occupy part of the site, while basketball, tennis and padel courts sit alongside facilities for cricket, rugby and swimming. Runners have a six-lane athletics track and a separate jogging route around the grounds.
The venue operates through several forms of access. Pitches and courts can be hired separately, the gym has its own memberships and classes, and coaching is arranged by sport. Its published programme includes football academy sessions and private training, indoor and outdoor padel, swimming passes and group fitness classes.
The Mouratoglou Tennis Centre is among the more recent additions. Opened on 17 June 2025, it contains six courts certified by the International Tennis Federation. Pay-per-play court access is offered alongside individual and group lessons, a junior programme and training camps for adults and younger players.
Four Parks at Circuit X
Four separately ticketed parks make up Circuit X, each with its own age requirements. The High Ropes Park contains 31 obstacles arranged across three levels rising to ten metres, along with a 100-metre zipline, climbing wall and free-fall jump. Elsewhere, the BMX Park has dedicated tracks and a pump circuit, the Skate Park accommodates skateboards and scooters, and the Splash Park combines water play with climbing equipment.
The parks are divided between two parts of Hudayriyat. High Ropes and BMX occupy the Circuit X Adventure Park, while the Skate and Splash parks are located at Marsana. BMX bicycles and protective equipment can be hired on site; similarly, visitors to the Skate Park may bring their own skateboard or scooter or rent one there. Coaches supervise the BMX course, and private lessons are available for those learning to skate.
Cycling at Two Speeds
For road and leisure cyclists, getting out on Hudayriyat is relatively straightforward. In October 2025, Modon cited 28 kilometres of open-air cycle tracks across the island. Alternatively, mountain bikers can take to Trail X, a 15-kilometre course whose colour-coded routes range from green to black, with climbs, descents, overpasses and technical sections along the way.
The masterplan is considerably more ambitious, with 220 kilometres of cycle tracks proposed. Much of this network has yet to open, whilst Velodrome Abu Dhabi also remains forthcoming. Although announced in 2023 with an anticipated 2025 opening, it is still listed by Modon as ‘coming soon’, without a revised public date.
Plans for the velodrome include what Modon describes as the region’s first UCI Category 1 indoor track. A 600-metre ramp will wind around the building before reaching a rooftop circuit overlooking the island and Abu Dhabi skyline. Until it is complete, the open-air tracks and Trail X remain the viable options for cyclists visiting Hudayriyat.
A Larger Field of Play
Hudayriyat’s masterplan extends over more than 51 million square metres, an area Modon equates to 53.8 per cent of Abu Dhabi Island. It is intended to add 53.5 kilometres of coastline, including 16 kilometres of beaches. Whilst several sporting venues are already open, the urban park remains planned. Covering more than 2.25 million square metres, it is due to contain an elevated cycle track, a mangrove walk, playgrounds, an eco-farming space and an events valley.
Hudayriyat Golf Estates offers a snapshot of the island’s next phase. Homes are arranged around a single 18-hole course covering 95 hectares, with a 2.3-kilometre green spine connecting the clubhouse, wellness facilities, multi-sports courts, school, parks, shops and co-working spaces. Handover is scheduled for August 2030.
Within days of the July 2026 launch, Modon recorded sales of more than AED 13 billion across 1,700 residences. The developer described it as the highest publicly recorded sales value for a single residential project launch in the UAE.
What This Means for a Home
For those considering a home on Hudayriyat, the island’s sporting infrastructure adds a practical dimension to the address. Surfing, tennis, football, cycling and family activities are already within easy reach, whilst the forthcoming velodrome, urban park and golf course will widen the choice. Alongside apartments, villas, mansions and owner-designed plots, this makes Hudayriyat a viable option for households seeking generous private space with established places to train, ride and spend time outdoors nearby.
